Fact-checking Donald Trump’s State of the Union address
Al Jazeera
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
US President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy and combative State of the Union address, focusing on his administration's economic performance and hardline immigration policies despite declining poll numbers ahead of the midterm elections. The speech, the longest in modern history at approximately 108 minutes, included boasts about inflation easing and gas prices dropping. However, fact-checkers noted that while inflation has decreased from its peak under former President Joe Biden, it remains higher than when Trump first took office. Gasoline prices were also found to be higher than Trump claimed, with no state averaging below $2.30 per gallon.
Trump's immigration agenda, which he described as the "first duty" of the American government, drew a strong response from Republicans and silence from Democrats. He emphasized protection for US citizens over illegal aliens, prompting criticism from opponents who accused him of ignoring key issues like the Russia-Ukraine war and the release of classified files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, several Democrats skipped the speech entirely, with some attending outside events or leaving in protest, such as Texas Representative Al Green, who was escorted out after holding up a sign referencing Trump's controversial social media posts.
A rare moment of bipartisan agreement occurred when Trump introduced the Olympic gold-medal-winning men’s hockey team and announced plans to award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. However, much of the speech was dominated by partisan divides, with Democrats accusing Trump of ignoring critical issues and exaggerating his achievements. The fact-checking highlights the challenges of balancing political rhetoric with factual accuracy, especially in high-stakes election cycles.
This State of the Union address underscores the ongoing political battles in Washington and the stakes surrounding the midterm elections. As Trump's popularity wanes and divisions between Republicans and Democrats widen, the speech serves as a snapshot of the administration's priorities and the broader challenges facing the
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/25/2026